HomeMy WebLinkAbout102525 - FYI my comment submitted to City Council regarding Monday's special meeting on the DSHS encampmentALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
On October 20, I learned during the County Commissioners' meeting that local service providers and other interested providers were scrambling to find both a new location where inhabitants
of the DSHS encampment could go and an entity willing and able to manage or support the encampment. As of that evening, the city manager confirmed that neither had yet been found and
expressed "hope" that the individuals would all find somewhere to go. Perhaps since Monday our community is nearer to a solution, but perhaps not.
It's clear that setting a deadline for removal did a lot to concentrate attention on finding answers, so it may have had value in accelerating the search. From what I hear, the deadline
has also already had the effect of harmfully dispersing the campers.
Not to be flexible about the deadline while efforts are underway would be cruel and, to me, an offensive use of the city's power. To use the Mayor's word, it would be immoral.
It was less than three months ago (August 4) that the staff proposed that the problem of the encampment be routed to the Housing Fund Board. Council voted as follows:
Motion: Amy Howard moved to request the Housing Fund Board to reboot Community Conversations with a focus on assisting the City on solving the immediate problem at unsanctioned encampments.
Ben Thomas seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote.
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to raise low barrier shelter policy and options as a priority for the Housing Fund Board to address as part of a coordinated, interagency approach. Ben Thomas
seconded.
Discussion ensued around if intent is to do it in 5-year plan and acknowledge of intent.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote.
This is the extent of the Council's action on this issue; Council did not ask for or set a deadline for removal.
Yes, the encampment is causing problems for the city and the city "doesn't do housing." Yet to expect the Housing Fund Board to find a solution this rapidly is unrealistic, to say the
least.
The problems caused for the campers are very grave and weigh heavily on me as a constituent and a member of the Port Townsend public.
There must be a pause while a solution is still being sought.
I hope to hear more from my elected representatives on Monday.